Melvin Adrian DeBoard (1911 - 2004)

BRAMAN -- Melvin Adrian DeBoard, resident of Braman, died Friday evening, April 23, 2004, in the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Blackwell. He was 93.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 27, in the chapel of Roberts and Son Funeral Home with the Rev. Glenn Edmondson of First Church of God in Ponca City officiating. Burial will follow in Braman Cemetery. Melvin Adrian DeBoard was born March 12, 1911, in rural Mountain View, Mo., the son of Jess Cleveland and Leota Willbanks DeBoard. In 1917 they moved to Ottawa, Kan., and lived there until 1921, when they returned to Mountain View, Missouri. In 1928, they moved to the Braman-Dilworth area where they engaged in farming for 45 years. He married Naoma Wolfe in 1939 in Tonkawa, and they settled on a farm. In 1945, they moved to the current farm in Kay county. His wife preceded him in death in 1957. On Feb. 8, 1958, he married Betty J. Markhart Crouch in Newkirk, and they lived on the farm. He was a member of the First Church of God of Ponca City. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and was an avid trapper. Survivors include his wife, Betty J. DeBoard of Braman; two daughters, Rebecca Dixon and husband Raymond of Pekin, Ill., and Melvina Aupperle and husband Ron of Newkirk; two sons, Leonard DeBoard and wife Billie of Blackwell and Max DeBoard of Braman; two step-daughters, Mary Frances Davison and husband William of Norcross, Ga., and Faye Sunken of Pekin, Ill.; four sisters, Lorene Anderson of Blackwell, Irene Brown of Tonkawa, Eileen Hamburger of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Charlene Grapes of Enid; two brothers, Jess DeBoard Jr. of Choctow and Charles DeBoard of Perryton, Texas; 15 grandchildren, Connie Roe, Rick Adamson, Jennifer McCleary, Emily DeBoard, Allison DeBoard, Thomas Davison, Holly Dixon, Morgan Dixon, Erica Schaar, Melody Smith, Myra Gee, Zandra DeBoard, Nathan DeBoard, Laura Warthen and Braden Aupperle; 11 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a son, Roy Adrian DeBoard; a daughter, Marilyn Leigh Adamson; a stepson, Larry Glen Schaar; a stepdaughter, Margaret Ann Schaar; a sister, Pauline Evens; and four brothers, Retis, Lendle, Cecil and Olen DeBoard. Casket bearers will be Stan Anderson, Fred Anderson, Bobby Brown, Mike Smith, Larry Grapes, Ralph DeBoard, Frankie DeBoard, Don Evans, Steve Evans, Frank Evans and Chris DeBoard. Honorary bearers will be Albert Larchey, Bill Johnson, Mike Johnson, Gary Fultz, Bill Shoffner, Orvan Grell, Rick Grell and Vern Willbanks. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Faith Hospice, 114 S. Main, Blackwell, Okla. 74631.

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Published Monday, April 26, 2004 on page A3 Copyright ©1998-2004 The Ponca City News

Burial: Braman Cemetery, Braman, Oklahoma

Tombstone Picture: http://www.okcemeteries.net/kay/braman/deboardm.htm